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Walt has always had an opening comment, when we meet, that makes me laugh.  Actually, he has many enjoyable comments throughout any conversation we have – no mater which country we were in – especially those countries with good Scotch.

Yesterday he explained how he was sure the good Scotch had something to do with my “Abstract Art” – that is what made me laugh.

So, last night as I lifted my glass of Laphroaig, to toast my friend Walt on his birthday, a  vision of Provo countryside came to mind:

I got the idea for this abstract while watching clouds approach in front of a storm just before dinner last night.

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Here is a Sept 29 update – Dave Cesari ,who is a frequent and wonderful contributor to the TGO Photo Club web site answered the question I posed yesterday. Scroll down to see my question.

Dave’s answer:  Jim, I’m responding to your question on the blog. Canada Geese migrate in family groups the leading birds are the adults with the young trailing along behind. The larger groups you see occur when several family groups gather at favored spots. They are still led by a smart older gander. The desision to land or not are made by the experienced leader. Sometimes you will see apparent disagreements among the flock. Some birds will split off and not follow the leader. Then again they may rejoin the flock and follow the leader down. The leaders seem to know if a landing spot is safe or not. They will circle and circle before commiting to land. They fly in the V formation because the following birds gain lift from the wing tip vortex coming of the leading birds. Often you will see the leader drop back and the second in line lead. The leader does not get any lift so it has to work harder. Hope this answers your question. I have spent many hours watching flocks of geese. Dave

FLYING IN FORMATION!  I have an interesting question.

But first a little background:

….……1

….2………..3

….……………….4

If a flight consists of four aircraft (or maybe 4 Canadian Geese) the formation could look like the 4 finger formation shown above. The flight leader is #1, the element leader is #3. Their wingmen are #2 and #4, respectively.

In general, it’s the flight and element leader’s jobs to do the tactics parts of the mission.

The wingmen are there to be an extension of the element leader’s senses and firepower. As wingmen, your primary tasks are to follow your leader, watch his back and watch the surrounding area while the leaders are dealing with radar/sensors.  Navigation and looking at the radar are not your prime concerns.

As, the wingman, If your leader deviates from the flight plan, you follow him. Tell him about the change to make sure he hasn’t missed a turn, but stay on him no matter what.

Here is my question.  Do you think the geese have an agreement on responsibility like the military aircraft do?  You know, when they are searching for food for the night and for a place to rest before the next day’s flight to the south and warmer weather.

E-mail your thoughts to me.

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It is a beautiful day on Drummond Island – but after today, the forecast says summer is over. High forecast, until I leave next week, is to never get beyond 65 degrees – mostly in the 50’s.

Yesterday, I saw flocks of geese flying south, Sandhill Cranes circling and calling out to those cranes still siting on the ground – that is how they gather in large flocks to head south, saw a Tundra  swan swimming in the Bay, the yard is full of small flight birds stopping to pick up seeds and bugs, cedar seed pods starting to fall, the water is a fall blue in color.

There seems to be more freighter traffic (I can see them a mile or so out when they reach the northern tip of Lake Huron heading into or out of the Soo Locks connecting Lake Superior & Lake Huron) – maybe delivering all that stuff before the storms of November (from Gordon Lightfoot’s Edmund Fitzgerald) or the Soo Locks close in January I think (I have a scanner on and enjoy listening to their Captions talk as they pass each other).

Of course there is leaf color – but not like New England. Another sign of fall –  my back hurts – from all I do to get ready for winter, like the birds, I will soon be heading south.

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You see, I have thoughts of the inscription on my Great Grandpa Abe’s tomb stone “Be content when you pass by.  For as you are now, so once was I. As I am now you soon will be. Show kindness to all and prepare to follow me”

My response to Great Grandpa Abe “I will be kind to all but I will not be content to follow you until I know which way you went”

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